1956 Harmsworth Trophy Race

Detroit River, Detroit, Michigan, August 25, 27 & 28, 1956

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Statistics

August 25, 27, 28	(5n) 5.754 Mile Course
Detroit River	(35n) 40.3 Mile Heats
Detroit, Michigan	(105n) 120.8 Mile Race

 

	No.	United States Team	Owner	Qual.	Competition Lap	Qualifying Points
1	U-14	Dora My Sweetie	Horace Dodge	D.N.Q.	—	703.149
2	U-20	Miss U.S. II	George Simon	105.222	—	705.026
3	U-29	Shanty I	Bill Waggoner	117.225	110.357	808.12
4	U-55	Gale V (2)	Joe Schoenith	—	—	400.227
5	U-56	Gale VI (1)	Joe Schoenith	—	—	305.495
6	G-22	Such Crust III (2)	Jack Schafer	—	—	407.098
	No.	Canadian Team	Owner	—	—	—
1	CA-1	Miss Supertest II	Gordon Thompson	—	96.672	—

 

	Heat One	Driver	Speed
1	Shanty I	Russ Schleeh	94.772
2	Miss Supertest II	Bill Braden	89.313
	Heat Two	Driver	Speed
1	Miss Supertest II	Bill Braden	83.258
2	Shanty I	Russ Schleeh	D.N.F.
	Heat Three	Driver	Speed
1	Shanty I	Russ Schleeh	89.75
2	Miss Supertest II	Bill Braden	83.756

 

The Harmsworth Trophy was a contest between nations. Shanty I represented the United States and Miss Supertest II represented Canada. The trophy went to the nation scoring two heat wins first. Thus Shanty I won the trophy for the United States.

Shanty I was chosen to be the U.S. defender since she scored the most points under the Harmsworth formula and impressed the committee most in the time trials.

Only Allison powered entries were eligible for consideration since this engine was totally indigenous to the United States. In order to be considered for the Harmsworth team an entry had to compete in two races. The points earned in the entry's best two final heats would be considered under the formula. In addition to break ties the extent to which a boat's final heat speed exceeded the average of speeds in the relevant final heat would be added to its point total.

The top six boats would comprise the U.S. Harmsworth team. Of these the top three would be invited to the Harmsworth trials. The selection of the defender was discretionary with the Harmsworth committee, but was to be based on the Harmsworth points earned and the time trials.

[Statistics and comments from Greene, V.1]